Pouch manufacturing means and method



Dec. 30, 1958 G. s. SCARVELIS POUCH MANUFACTURING MEANS AND METHOD 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 25, 1956 MW m mw m

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POUCH MANUFACTURING MEANS AND METHOD Filed July 25, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet3 III! 25 *ELWW INVENTOR 51:6 63 Jc'czrreZzcS' United States Patent OPOUCH MANUFACTURING MEANS AND METHOD Gus Stephen Scarvelis, MountVernon, Ohio, assignor to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Application July 25, 1956, Serial No.600,040

Claims. (Cl. 93-8) In the marketing of certain food products, notablysliced cheeses and sliced meats, it is quite common to seal the productsin flat pouches of cellophane, glassine, Pliofilm or the like. Theautomatic machines usually employed to fill the pouches, require thateach pouch have a lip projecting from one pouch side wall beyond theopen end of the pouch, and the present invention provides for the rapidmanufacture of pouches of this type.

Conventionally, a web of the sheet material is advanced from a supplyroll to a folding station at which the web is folded upon itself on acentral longitudinal line to convert said web into a two-ply web. Thistwoply web advances to a sealing station at which longitudinally spacedtransverse areas of its two plies are heat-sealed together. The two-plyweb then proceeds to a cutting station at which it is transversely cutthrough the sealed-together areas, thereby providing individual pouches.Prior to the cutting operation, it is usually customary to heat-seal thetwo plies together along the fold line.

The present invention improves upon conventional practice and provides atrimming station between the folding station and the sealing station. Atthis trimming station, the free longitudinal edges of the upper andlower plies of the two-ply web, are longitudinally trimmed, the trimline of one ply being more distant from the fold line than the trim-lineof the other ply to insure that one side wall of each pouch shall belonger than the other side wall, thereby providing the requiredprojecting lip at the open end of the pouch.

The invention aims to provide for trouble-free and accurate trimming ofthe free edges of the upper and lower plies by separating said freeedges at the trimming station, and trimming the separated edgesindividually along spaced parallel lines, the distance between the twotrim lines being equal to the required width for the projecting lips ofthe pouches.

The invention further aims to provide a novel and advantageousconstruction and association of elements for performing the edgetrimming operations.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear,the nature of theinvention will be more clearly understood by referenceto the following detailed description, the appended claims and theseveral views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

in the drawings:

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a perspective View of one ofthe pouches.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic top plan view showing illustrative apparatusembodying the edge trimming means of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic side elevation of the apparatus of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the edge trimmer and its mounting means.

Figure 5 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section, on line5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an elevation looking in the direction of the arrow 6 ofFigure 4.

Figures 7 and 8 are horizontal sectional views on lines 77 and 8-8 ofFigure 5, respectively.

Figures 9 and 10 are vertical transverse sectional views on line 9-9 and10-10 of Figure 5, respectively.

Figure 11 is a top plan view of the ply-separating and spacing plate.

In the illustrative apparatus of Figures 1 and 2, a table T is shown,and near one end of this table a supply roll SR of the desired flexiblematerial is illustrated. At said end of the table T, there is a foldingstation F and spaced apart along said table are an edge trimming stationET, a sealing station S, and a cutting station C. Another sealingstation S is shown between the stations S and C, and may or may not beprovided, as desired. Feed rolls are shown at R.

The web W is drawn from the feed roll FR to the folding station F andalong the table T to the end of the latter. At the folding station F,the web W is folded upon itself along a central longitudinal line,thereby converting it into a two-ply web W having the free longitudinaledges of its upper ply U and lower ply L in alignment.

At the edge trimming station ET, the free edges of the plies U and L areseparated and individually trimmed along spaced parallel lines so thatone trimmed edge E projects beyond the other trimmed edge E. The trimscrap TS (Figure 3) may be deposited into a basket or the like B as itis formed. At the sealing station S, longitudinally spaced transverseareas A of the two plies U and L are sealed together, and when thestation S is employed, said plies are sealed together at this stationalong the fold lineof the two-ply web W. At the cutting station C, thistwo-ply web W' is transversely cut through the centers of thesealed-together areas A and the completed pouches P are thussuccessively formed, each pouch being provided with the lip P projectingbeyond its open end.

The folding means at the station F may be conventional and is shown asconsisting of fixed wings 1 over which the web W is drawn. The sealingmeans at the station S and S may also be conventional and are shown ashaving electrically heated roller-carried sealing irons 2 and 3respectively. The cutting means at the station C may also beconventional and is shown as having a roller-carried blade 4 cooperablewith a fixed blade 5. The edge-trimming means at the station ET, is ofnovel construction and is shown in detail in Figures 4 to 11 of thedrawings.

A horizontal mounting bar 6 is provided to extend transversely under theweb W, the table T being apertured at 7 (Figure 2) to receive said barand a knifecarrying bracket 8 which is mounted on said bar. The ends ofthis bar 8 are shown as secured by screws v9 to the frame 10 of thetable T, spacers 11 being interposed between said frame and bar tolocate the upper side of the latter in substantially the plane of thetable top.

The bracket 8 includes a slide block 12 channeled at 12 to receive thebar 6 and extend under the latter. A clamping block 13 is secured uponthe slide block 12 by clamping screws 14 and extends over the bar 6.Loosening of these screws allows adjustment of the slide block 12 andthe entire bracket 8 longitudinally of the bar 6, and tightening of saidscrews locks the slide in adjusted position.

A bracket arm 15 projects horizontally from the slide block 12 andcarries a spacer plate 16 to separate the free edges of the web plies Uand L. The arm 15 also carries an upper knife 17 over the spacer plate16, and a lower knife 18 under said spacer plate and laterally spacedfrom said knife 17. The cutting edges 19 of these knives converge to theplate 16 and extend into suitable recesses 20 in the latter. While theupper web ply U is passing over the plate 16, the free edge of saidupper ply is trimmed by-the. upper knife'17. At-the same time, the freeedge of the lower web L is trimmed by the'lower knife 18, as itpassesunder the. plate 16, the trimming of the two ply edgesbeingeffected on spacedparallel lines to associate the trimmededges E and Eas above explained.

In the present disclosure, the. bracket arm 15 comprises a lower section21 integral with the slide block 12, an upper section 22, and clampingscrews 23 connecting said sections 21 and 22. One end of the spacerplate 16 is ti htly clamped between these arm sections 21 and 22 and.dowels 24 are employed to accurately locate said plate 16. The screws 23also preferably extend through this plate.

The upper arm section 22 has an integraltlateral projection 25.whichoverlies and is spaced from the plate 16; and the lower arm section 21has a similar projection 26 which underlies and is spaced from'saidplate 16. The upper projection extends further from the arm 15' than thelower projection 26, the difference in extent being the desired distancebetween the knives 17 and 18. The upper knife 17 is clamped against theouter. end of the upper projection 25 by. a clamping bar 27 and screws28; and the lower knife 18 is clamped by corresponding elements 29 and30 against the outer. end of the lower projection 26.

It is preferable to provide the upper arm section 22 with a webhold-down roller 31.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that novel and advantageousprovision has been made for attaining the desired ends. However,attention is invited to the possibility of makingvariations within thescope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. In a pouch manufacturing means for folding a flexible web upon itselfalong a substantially central line to form a two-ply web and fordisposing the free longitudinal edges of the two plies substantially inalignment, means for sealing longitudinally spaced transverse areas ofthe two plies of said two ply, web together; means for transverselycutting the sealed two-ply web through the sealed-together areas of saidplies, and means for longitudinally advancing said two ply web;separating means between said folding means and said seaming means forseparating the free longitudinal edges of the two plies of the advancingtwo-ply web, upper trimming means over said edge separating means inposition for trimming the uppermost of the separated ply edges on astraight longitudinal line, and lower trimming means under said edgeseparating means and spaced laterally from said upper trimming means inposition for trimming the lowermost of said separated edges on astraight longitudinal line spacedlaterally from the aforesaid line.

A machine as specified in claim 1, in which said edge separating meansconsists of a horizontal fixedly mounted spacing plate for receptionbetween said plies, and in which said upper and lower trimming meansconsist of two-fixed knives having cutting edges which converge to saidspacing plate, said spacing plate having recesses into which saidcutting edges extend.

3. In a machine having a table along which to longitudinally advance atwo-ply flexible web, separating means stationarily mounted with respectto said table, said separating means being constructed to separate freelongitudinal edges of the advancing two-ply web, upper trimming meansover said edge separating means for trimming the uppermost of theseparated ply edges on a straight line, lower trimming means under saidedge separating means and spaced laterally from said upper trimmingmeans for trimming the lowermost of said separated edges on a straightline spaced laterally from the aforesaid line, and means mounting saidseparating and trimming means at one longitudinal edge of said table.

4. A structure as specified in claim 3, in which said edge separatingmeans consists of a horizontal fixedly mounted spacing plate forreception between said plies, and in which said upper and lower trimmingmeans consist of two knives having cutting edges which converge to saidspacing plate, said spacing plate having recesses into which saidcutting edges extend.

5. A structure as specified inclaim 3; said edge separating meansconsisting of a horizontal spacing plate for reception between saidplies, said upper and lower trimming means consisting of two kniveshaving cutting edges which converge to said spacing plate, said mountingmeans comprising a bracket upon which said spacing plate and said knivesare fixedly mounted, a horizontal bracketmounting bar extendingtransversely of said table and fixed with respect thereto, and meansmounting said bracket on said bar.

6. A structure as specified in claim 3; said edge separating meansconsisting of a horizontal spacing plate for reception between saidplies, said upper and lower trimming means consisting of two kniveshaving cutting edges Which converge to said spacing plate, said mountingmeans comprising a bracket upon which said spacing plate and said knivesare fixedly mounted, a horizontal bracketmounting bar extendingtransversely of said table and fixed with respect thereto, and meansmounting said bracket on said bar and including means allowingadjustment of said bracket along said bar.

7. A trimmer comprising a horizontal spacing plate for reception betweenfree longitudinal edge portions of upper and lower plies of a two-plyweb, an upper knife over said spacing plate for trimming the edge of theupper ply on a straight line as the web is advanced, a lower knife undersaid spacing plate and spaced laterally from said upper knife fortrimming the edge of the lower ply on a line spaced from the aforesaidline, said knives having cutting edges which converge to said spacingplate, the latter having recesses into which said cutting edges extend,and means for fixedly mounting said spacing plate and knives.

8. A trimmer comprising a horizontal spacing plate for reception betweenfree longitudinal edge portions of upper and lower plies of a two-plyweb, an upper knife over said spacing plate for trimming the edge of theupper ply on a straight line as the web is advanced, a lower knife undersaid spacing plate and spaced laterally from said upper knife fortrimming the edge of the lower ply on a line spaced from the aforesaidline, said knives having cutting edges which converge to said spacingplate, the latter having recesses into which said cutting edges extend,a bracket on which said spacing plate and knives arefixedly mounted, ahorizontal bracket-mounting bar to extend transversely of the web, andmeans mounting said bracket on said bar.

9. A trimmer comprising a horizontal spacing plate for reception betweenfree longitudinal edge portions of upper and lower plies of a two-plyweb, an upper knife over said spacing plate for trimming the edge of theupper ply on a straight line as the web is advanced, a lower knife undersaid spacing plate and spaced laterally from said upper knife fortrimming the edge of the lower ply on a line spaced from the aforesaidline, said knives having cutting edges which converge to said spacingplate, the latter having recesses into which said cutting edges extend,a bracket on which said spacing plate and knives are fixed mounted, ahorizontal bracket-mounting bar to extend transversely of the web, andmeans mounting said bracket on said bar and including means allowingadjustment of said bracket along said bar.

10. A trimmer comprising a horizontal spacing plate for receptionbetween free longitudinal edge portions of upper and lower plies of atwo-ply web, an upper knife over said spacing plate for trimming theedge of the upper ply on a straight line as the web is advanced, a lowerknife under said spacing plate and spaced laterally from said upperknife for trimming the edge of the lower ply on a line spaced from theaforesaid line, said knives having cutting edges which converge to saidspacing plate, the latter having recesses into which said cutting edgesextend, a bracket on which said spacing plate and said knives arefixedly mounted, said bracket having a slide, and a bracket-mounting barupon which said slide is mounted for adjustment longitudinally of saidbar.

11. A trimmer comprising a substantially horizontal bracket arm havingmounting means at one end, said arm having an upper and a lowerhorizontal projection extending in the same direction therefrom, ahorizontal spacing plate projecting from said arm between and invertically spaced relation with said upper and lower projections, anupper knife mounted on said upper projection, and a lower knife mountedon said lower projection, the two knives being disposed in spacedplanes, said knives having cutting edges which converge to said spacingplate, said spacing plate having recesses into which said cutting edgesextend.

12. A structure as specified in claim 11; said bracket arm beingcomposed of an upper and a lower section and clamping screws connectingthese sections, one end of said spacing plate being rigidly clampedbetween said sections, said upper and lower projections being carried bysaid upper and lower sections respectively.

13. A structure as specified in claim 11; said upper and lowerprojections projecting to different extents from said arm and havingvertical end surfaces, upper and lower clamping bars in abuttingrelation with said outer end surfaces of said upper and lowerprojections respectively, and clamping screws connecting said upper andlower clamping bars with said upper and lower projections respectively,said knives being clamped between said clamping bars and said verticalouter end surfaces of said projections.

14. A structure as specified in claim 11; said bracket arm beingcomposed of an upper and a lower section and clamping screws connectingthese sections, one end of said spacing plate being rigidly clampedbetween said sections, said upper and lower projections being carried bysaid upper and lower sections respectively and pro jecting to differentextents therefrom, said upper and lower projections having verticalouter end surfaces, upper and lower clamping bars in abutting relationwith said outer end surfaces of said upper and lower projectionsrespectively, and clamping screws connecting said upper and lowerclamping bars with said upper and lower projections respectively, saidknives being clamped between said clamping bars and said outer endsurfaces of said projections.

15. In a method of successively forming flat pouches from an elongatedweb wound on a supply roll and having parallel edges, the steps ofcontinuously feeding the web from the supply roll to a folding station,at said folding station folding the advancing web upon itself along acentral longitudinal line and thereby converting said web into a two-plyweb the plies of which have their free longitudinal edges substantiallyin alignment, continuously advancing this two-ply web from said foldingstation to a trimming station, at said trimming station separating thefree longitudinal edges of the two plies of the advancing two-ply web,at said trimming station longitudinally trimming said separated edgesalong parallel lines spaced apart transversely of said two-ply web,continuously advancing the trimmed two-ply web from said trimmingstation to a sealing station, at said sealing station successivelysealing longitudinally spaced transverse areas of the trimmed pliestogether, continuously advancing the trimmed and sealed two-ply web fromsaid sealing station to a cutting station, and at said cutting stationsuccessively cutting the advancing trimmed and sealed two-ply webtransversely through said sealed together areas, thereby successivelyforming fiat pouches each having an open end and a projecting lip atsaid open end.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,851,061 Poppe Mar. 29, 1932 2,248,471 Stroop July 8, 1941 2,326,931Dalton et a1. Aug. 17, 1943 2,651,364 Ashman Sept. 8, 1953

